Indonesia expects stronger economic ties with Philippines

BINTANGNEWS.com
–President
Joko “Jokowi” Widodo congratulated the Philippines for its upcoming ASEAN
chairmanship in 2017, expecting that Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte’s
leadership would set the regional bloc’s future path.

Jokowi also said he
hoped Indonesia and the Philippines would enhance their economic cooperation.

"Amid the global
economic slowdown, our trade values have continued to increase. This situation
shows that your visit has taken place at the right moment. This visit will give
us a new spirit to improve efforts to strengthen cooperation between our two
countries," Jokowi said after a meeting with President Duterte at the
State Palace during the latter’s inaugural visit to Jakarta on Friday.

In the meeting,
Duterte highlighted a joint maritime security operation initiated to deal with
rampant vessel hijacking, which had hampered coal shipments to power plants in
the Philippines.

Nine Indonesian
sailors are still being held captive by Abu Sayyaf militants in the southern
Philippines.

"I am very sorry
that the shipment of coal needed by power plants in my country has been
hampered by piracy in the region. Piracy is an international crime,"
Duterte said.

President Jokowi
welcomed Duterte in an official ceremony at the State Palaceat 4 p.m.This was the first
state visit Duterte has undertaken since his inauguration in June. After the
ceremony, both leaders had discussions that ended with a joint press statement.

Prior to the meeting,
Jokowi took Duterte to Pasar Tanah Abang, Southeast Asia’s largest textile
market in Central Jakarta, for ablusukan(impromptu visit). During the visit,
Jokowi showed his Philippine counterpart examples of how Indonesia managed
social issues.***